Fluid-pressure apparatus.



W. G. ABBOTT, JR. FLUID PRESSURE APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED 1.110.22, 1912.

1,102,222, 7 Patented June 30, 1914.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

W. G. ABBOTT, J11. FLUID PRESSURE APPARATUS.

APPLIUATION FILED AUG. 22,1912.

Patented June 30, 1914;

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2 w G. ABBOTT; JE- ELUID PRESSURE APPARATUS. APPLIOATIOR FILE D AUG. 22, 1912.

1,102,222, Patented June so, 1914 I TED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM G. ABBOTT, JR., 013 MILFORD, NEW HAMPSHIRE.

FLUID-PRE SS URE APPARATUS.

Specification of: Letters Patent.

Patented June 30, 1914.

Application filed August a, 1912. Serial No. 716,445.

To all whom it may concern:

lowing is a specification.

This invention relates to compressors, pumps, motors and the like, and part1cu-- larly to apparatus of this general class in which fluid compression or suction is maintained by relative movement between a helical passage and a body of fluid held in position eccentrically to the axis of said helical passage by centrifugal force.

In the embodiments of the invention herein illustrated the invention comprises two rotors, one of which is hollow and inclcses the other. The outer rotor contains a body water, which revolves with the outer rotor and consequently is under pressure due to the action thereon of centrifugal force, while the inner rotor islnade with a helical or spiral passage surrounding the axisof said rotor and extending lengthwise thereof. The inner rotor is eccentrically supported relatively to the body of fluid within the outer rotor.

so that a portion of each convolution of the helical ass-age is submerged in the body of fluid. Ierein I have shown my invention as embodied in an air compressor or the like with both rotors driven in the. same direction, but in such manner that the partially submerged helical passage of the inner rotor revolves relatively to the body of fluid that is under pressure from centrifugal force. As a result, each convolution of the helical passage is occupied and closed in part by a body of the fluid which occupies the submerged portion of the convolution, while the remaining portion of each convolution 1S occupied b air or other fluid that is being compresse As the helical passage rotates relatively to the fluid the portions of the fluid occupying the submerged parts of the convolutions do not rotate with the-helical passage but traverse the latter so that these bodies of fluid, which are segmental in form, act as pistons to propel the air, or other matter being compressed, along the helical passage from the inlet end to the d1scharge end thereof;

In the accompanying drawings: Figure 1 is a central, longitudinal, sectional view of an air compressor or the like embodying one form of my invention; Fig.

2 is a section on linps 2-2 of Fig. 1; Fig. 3

is avcentral, vertical, sectional view of an air compressor or the like, embodying another form of my invention; Fig. 4 is a central, vertical, sectional view of still another form of air compressor or the like embodying the invention, and containing two inner rotors of the general character shown in Fig. 3; Fig. 5 is a section on line 4-4 of Fig. 4 but with the inner rotors'removed; Fig. (i is an elevation of the outlet end of one of the,

; inner rotors of the compressor shown in Fig.

4; and Fig. 7 is an elevation of the inlet end of the rotor shown in Fig. 5.

Having reference to Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawings, A represents the frame of the of liquid Such example as mercury compressor made with bearings a, in which are journaled hollow trunnions b )rovided on the ends of the outer rotor B. The frame A is also provided with bearings a for a hollow shaft 0, on which is fixed an inner rotor consisting of two drums C, each in the form of a truncated cone provided upon its periphery with a helical blade 0, the blade 0' on one drum being right-handed in pitch, and the blade e on the other drum being left-handed.

The outer rotor B contains a body I) of water, mercury or other suitable liquid which rotates with the rotor B. When the latter is'operated as hereinafter described centrifugal force acts to form the liquid body 6 into a cylindrical shape under centrifugal pressure, proportionate to the speed at which rotor B is driven. This liquid cylinder b rotates around the axis of the outer rotor B,-which is offset relatively to the axis of the inner rotor C, so that the convolutions of the helical passages 0 formed between the blades 0 upon the exterior of each inner] same direction and at such speeds that the peripheries of the two drums of the inner trapped in the convolutions tendsto distort rotor, which carry the blades 0, travel up liquid under pressure, and aswill be clear proximately the same speed as the inner surface of the liquid cylinder 5, the purpose of the rotation of the casing losing to maintain the liquid in proper position and under cen: trifugal pressure, and thewpurpose of the rotation. of the inner rotor being to propel the air or other matter from one end of the helical passage to the other in cooperation with the liquid.

.With the blades 0 arranged as shown in the drawings, the rotors B and C will'loe driven in the direction indicated by the arrows in i 2, and when the apparatus is in. operation tie efiect isthe' same as if the partially submerged inner rotors were rotatrn within stationary cylinder composed oi the only liquid displacement occasioned by the inner rotors directly is lateral flow thereof due to the liquid pistons traversing 1 the helical passage.

Since a portion of the length of each con-- volution or the helical passages o is'completely submerged, occupied and closed by a body of liquid, and since the relative movement between the body 1 and the helical passage causes this body to travel from on f end of the helical passage to the other, it will be clear that said bodies serve as pistons to propel ahead of them the air which j occupies the crescent shaped unsubmer ed portion of each convolution of thehelical passage 0 t will also be clear that'even tually these crescent shaped bodies or air will be discharged into the chamber 6 be tween the two drugns C, and thence through port p and hollow shaft 0, to a receptacle (not shown) into which the airis compressed. Air is supplied to the rotors C through the hollow trunnions I) from the atlnospheref The air enters first the inlet end of the helical passage when it is out of the body of liquid Z), and as the inner rotor turns, crescent shaped volume of air, at atmos pheric pressure is taken in and shut oil as the inlet end of the helical is again immersed. As this confined body of air moves toward the central chamber 5* at the outlet end of the helical passage, propelled by the fluid piston i'ornied behind it in the wholly immersed segment of the helix, it is gradually and steadily compressed by the gradual reduction. in the capacity of the, helical convolutions as they approach the outlet end, due to reduction in width of the helical passage, as shown in the drawings. As the capacity of the convolutions dej creases, the increasing pressure of the air ordisplace the surface of the fluid cvlinder f A. b to compensate for which the diameters oi":

last, whereby the surface of, the

drums C are gradually enlarged from the inlet toward the outlet ends, that said passage will be immersed substantially uniformly throughout its length. The gradual constriction of the helical passage, and the taper of the drums C, are so proportioned as to maintain a practically constant immersion from the first turn in the helii to the lluid cylinder Will not be unevenly disturbed The pressures, secured by this apparatus will depend upon the artificial hydraulic or fluid head or pressure due to the action of centrifugal force on the revolving body of fluid; The total attainable air compression will be determined by difference in the pres sure oi the. fluid in the first-and last convolut-ions, and lution of the centrifugally held fluid body, the greater will be the'artificial fluid. head or pressure, and the greater the compressioniat tainable. 1

Should it be desired to use the device for a suction pump, the taper of the inner rotors may be reversed, and the air removed from the central space and forced outward against atmospheric pressure, the directions of revolution of the inner and outer rotors being properly arranged. Ordinarily surface friction will be sufii cient to drive the liquid cylinder, but for special purposes blades or vanes on either the inner or outer rotor may be used as auxiliary means to lzeep the fluid cylinder r evolving. Such expedient, might be particularly desirable when one of the rotors is held stationary. In such case some auniliary driving means might be requiredon the revolving member to overcome the friction between the revolving liquid and the stationary member. V

llhe revolution oi the liquid cylinder hoW- ever inaf .tained, as

obtainable with a given immersion. The revolution of the helix in the liquid cylinder determines the speed oi the pumping. To reduce the frictionas far as possible, the speed of the diiierent parts are made prefer ably near together. I

It will be understood that one helicalpassage may be employed or any number arranged in series; and that any number of pumps may be arranged in similar fashion if desired. The use of the multiple threads or blades, sh'ownin Fig. 1, two of which are symmetrically placed, possess advantages due to correct balancing of the parts resulting from the symmetrical arrangement. Such arrangement also insuresthe air being uniformly entrapped and discharged.

By rev ling the action of: the pump, arotary fluid engine havingdesirable-proper ties will result as Will be readily understood.

In form of my invention shown in Fig, 3 the hollow outer rotor-1's shown at.

B? and the inner rotor at G the latter being p by the revolving casing, or otherwise, deterinlnesthe effective pressure the higher the speed of revo formed with a helical passage 0 tapering from its inlet end toward its outlet end, an

partly filled by fluid from the body 6', form ing fluid pistons 6 Rotor B is made with trunnions b jour'naled in bearings a, while the inner rotor C is journaled eccentrically within the outer rotor and partially submerged in an annular body I) of water, mercury or the like, similar to the body I) of Fig. 1. Near the outlet end of passage 0 the rotor C is made with two flanges (l and d, whose peripheries are submerged in body 6 throughout their circumferences. The two flanges d and d" are separated so as to provide a chamber (1 between them with which communicates one end of passage d, whose opposite end is connected through a port d in one wall of rotor B", with the. interior of one of the trunnions b, which is made hollow to serve as an outlet conduit for the air or other fluid that is compressed The disk (1 not only forms with the flange d,

compressed air with the bearing of trunnion d and obviates the necessity of packing that,

bearing. The disk (l prevents side thrust upon the rotor G which would otherwisei result by reason of the compressed air be tween the delivery end of the rotor and the; end wall of easing B By confining the air under pressure in chamber d between the" I end of the rotor and the disk d the pressure is balanced, and side thrust, with the conse-f quent increase of friction and wear, is;

wholly obviated. The same result is attained in the form of the invention shown in Fig. 1, where the adjacent ends of the' rotors C, C, act each as an opposed member for the other, to balance the pressure in the tween the two rotors and A similar disk d could,- if desired, be used at the other end of rotor- C", between the small end of rotor Cl and the; wall of B The trunnion d of the rotor C delivery chamber prevent side thrus extends to the exterior of rotor B and has fixed to it a pinion d, in mesh with an inter-' nal geard provided ona pulley d loosely mounted on one of the trunnions of rotor l3.

into chamber d. From chamber d the com pressed air or the like passes through ports (1 and d to an suitable receptacle. The two rotors B an C of this form of my invention while constructed dillerently have essentially the same mode of operation as either rotor C and rotor .13 of the form shown in Fig. 1.

Having reference now to the modifications shown in Figs. 4, 5, 6 and 7 B represents the outer rotor which is provided with trunnions b and 6", both made hollow to serve as conduits, the former to admit the air to the compressor and the latter to remove it therefrom. These trunnions, b and b, are jour naled in bearings a on the frame of the machine, and the trunnion b is provided with a pulley b through which the rotor B is driven.

Within the rotor B are arranged two liquid bodies b of water, mercury orthe like."

corresponding to the body I) of Figs. 1,2 and 3. These bodies I) are forcibly held at opposite ends of the rotor B by centrifugal force so that they are under pressure corresponing in degree to the velocity of the rotor, and in each body b an inner rotor C is partially submerged, said inner rotors being provided with trunnions journaled in bearings on the rotor B, and provided with pinions C meshing with a stationary pinion= c. As the rotor B rotates in the direction of the arrow about the axis of trunnions b and b, the inner rotors C not only travel around said axis but are rotated as indicated by arrows on their own axes by the pinions Each inner rotor C, which is fundamentally similar to rotor C of Fig. 3, is made with a tapering helical passage 0 each convolution of which is occupied in part by afluid piston b forming part of the body b. The rotation of each inner'rotor C on its own axis causes the fluid pistons 12 to traversc the helical passage. 0 and to carry before them the air occupying the unsub" merged portion of each convolution. In Fig. 7 0 indicates the inlet end of the helical passage of one of the inuer pistons C" and, as will be clear, when said end 1s not submerged in the body I) with which it co- '1l0 operates, it is free to receive air from the space I) that communicates with the hollow v trunnion In Fig. (i 0"" indicates the discharge end of the helical passage 0 and this 0 enin cooperates with a slot b formed in the en of rotor B, to discharge the compressed air from the helical passage 0 through said slot into the hollow trunnion b", with which the slot communicates. The slot b. is concentric with the axis of the inner rotor and extends from a point just outside of the body I) at one side of said axis to a point just outside the same body b at the o posite side of said axis, and is surrounded by a raised boss or seat 6 against which the end of the rotor snugly fits. The boss I) is not much longer than the slot b so that while the outlet end c? is submerged in the body 7)" it is free and clear of the boss I) and can discharge the fluid piston b from the helical passage,or rather, the helical passage can be withdrawn from or shed the fluid piston 6 while the discharge end is passing through the body I).

I claim:

,1. A hollow outer casing containing a body of liquid, means to maintain sald body I of liquid in position by centrifugal force,

a drum having a helical passage partially submerged in said centrifugally held body of liquid, an inlet assage communicating with one end of sald helical passage and anioutlet passage communicating with the other end of said helical passage, said helical-passage being of gradually diminishing capacity from its low pressure end toward its high pressure end, and said drum becoming progressively larger in diameter from its low pressure end toward its high pressure end to compensate, for the distortion of the surface of the fluid under the increased pressure resulting from said diminishing helical passage, and means to effeet a relative rotative movement between said drum and the body of liquid.

2. A-',l10ll0W outer casing containing. a

. bodyof liquid, means to maintain said body .said body of liquid.

of liquid in position by centrifugal force, an inner member having a helical passage par tiqlly submerged in said body of liquid, an in ct of said helical passage and an outlet passage communicating with the other end of said helical passage, said helical passage being of gradually decreasing pitch from its low pressure end toward its high pressure end, and means to eflect' a relative rotative movement between said helical passage and 3. A hollow outer casing containing a body of liquid, means to maintain said body of liquid in positiona by centrifugal force, a drum having ,a helical assage partiall submerged in said centri 'ugally held body of liquid, a member opposed to the high pressure end of said drum, having its periphery submerged in said body of liquid and forming with the high pressure end of said drum a pressure chamber adapted to counter-balance the pressure exerted on the end of said drum, an inlet passage communieating with one end of said helical passage assage communicating with one end' and an outlet passage communicating with the other end of said helical passage, one of which opens int'osaid pressure chamber.

" 4. A hollow outer casing containing a body of liquid, means to maintain said body hollow shaft extending through said casing, a drum mounted on said shaft having a helical passage partial submerged in said centrifugally held bo y of liquid, a member mounted on said shaft opposite to the high riphery submerged in said body of liquid and forming with the high ressure end of counterbalance the pressure exerted on the end of said drum, an inlet passa e and an outlet passage communicating with the ends of said helical passage, one of which opens low shaft. v

5. A hollow cylinder containing a body of liquid, means to maintain said body of liquid in position by centrifugal force, a hollow shaft extending through said casin drums mounted on said. shaft,.each l aving a helical passage partially submerged in said centrifugally held bodipf liquid, a passage communicating with 'e' outer end of each shelical passage, the adjacent ends of said drums being spaced apart to form a ressure chamber adapted to counterbalance t e presdrums, and a passage opening into said ressure chamber through said hollow shaft.

6. A hollow cylinder-containing a body vof liquid, means to maintain said body lof liquid in position by centrifugal force, a hollow shaft extending through said casing, two drums mounted on said shaft, each havpressure end of said drum having its pea ing a helical passageh partially submerged e of liquid imposition by centrifugal force, a

said drum a pressure cham er adapted to into the pressure chamber through said holtwo 7 sure exerted on the opposed ends of said 

